Page 28 - Buck Tilton - Outward Bound Ropes, Knots, and Hitches 2 ed.

the cordage, making them rough on the hands of the

handlers. All things considered, the development of
synthetic fibers was a glorious advance.
Ropes and cordage today are manufactured almost

exclusively from nylon, which was introduced to the
domestic market in 1938, and from other more recently

developed synthetic fibers with names such as polyester,
polypropylene and polyethylene. These fibers run

continuously along the length of a rope. In addition to being
phenomenally stronger and lighter than natural fibers,

synthetics handle easier, last longer, and resist abrasion,
rot, and mildew. Some of them (polypropylene ropes, for
instance) float as well. Please note that nylon ropes, despite

their advantages, will absorb water, thereby losing some
strength, and will sink in a sea. In a canoe, a floating rope

might be a good idea. While climbing, a stronger, more
supple rope might be a better choice. Being smooth on the

surface, they are also easy on the hands. Important on the
list of benefits, synthetic fibers stretch when the load is

applied, sometimes up to 40 percent, and return to their
original length when the load is off. When stretch is not
relevant but great strength is, Kevlar ropes, stronger than

steel, top the list. And synthetics can be made in a wide
range of colors, from subtle to brilliant. When ropes are

arranged close together yet do different jobs, as happens
sometimes in climbing, different colors make life easier as
well as safer.

Synthetics do have their negative aspects, though. They
melt if high heat is applied. Even high friction-generated

heat will harden the surface of a synthetic rope, making it
less functional. Knots tend to stay tied in “hairy” ropes of

natural fibers, but knots tied in synthetics tend to fall apart
more often due to the smoothness of the ropes. This has led